Switch-throw.



H. HUGHES, A. FERGUSON & H. L. LOWE.

SWITCH THROW.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.23.1915.

1 1 89,57 1 Patented July 4, 1916.

Inventors Witesse f/" 72mm by Attorneys HOWARD HUGHES, ARTHUR r RGUso AND HARRY L. LOWE, or oLIN'ToN, INDIANA.

SWITCH-THROW.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1, 1916.

I To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HOWARD HUGHES, ARTHUR FERGUSON, and HARRY L. Lown, citizens of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Vermilion, State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Switch-Throw, ofwhioh the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to switch throws or stands, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that character.

It is the object of theinvention to provide a switch throw of simple, compact, and inexpensive construction, which is thoroughly practical, reliable and efficient in use, and which is simplein operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a switch throw wherein the operating lever is mounted to swing parallel with the track, instead oftransversely, and is operatively connected to the switch throwing bar in a novel manner, the device being looked in either position whereby theswitch cannot he accidentally thrown by the trai wheels or otherwise. I

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangementof parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in theprecise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein .-Figure l is a plan viewof the mechanism,

portions being broken away. Figs. 2 and .3.

are vertical sections taken on the lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively, of Fig. 1, portions being brolren away.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a frame or base 1, the end portions of which are adapted to rest upon a pair of cross ties, with the frame 1 parallel with the track. The frame 1 has a dropped portion 3 between its ends, to lie between the ties, and the frame is completed by a plate 1 bridging or extending across the dropped portion 3 and having its ends resting upon the frame or plate 1 beyond the portion 3 thereof. The end portions of the plate 1 have lugs or shoulders 5 upstandmg therefrom against which the ends of the plate 4: abut, and the ends of the plate 1 are secured upon the plate 1 by means of bolts 6 or other securing elements.

A vertical shaft is journaled for rotation through the central portions of the plate 4 and dropped portion 3, and this shaft can be extended upwardly-for carryinga lantern, flag or other signal or semaphore. Fixed to the shaft 7 Within the frame is a rocking member 8, disposed snugly between the dropped portion 3 and plate 1, and having an outstanding horizontal flange 9 provided w th a seriesof apertures 10 through which is engageable a pivot 11 for the connection of the switch throwing bar 12 which is connected to the switch points (not shown) in the usual manner. The pivot 11 can be ad- JHStGCl, to regulate the throw of the switch points properly. The member 8 is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis to rotate in a horizontal plane, and when the member 8 is oscillated, the bar 12 is reciprocated for swinging the switchpoints.

In order that the member 8 can be operated by the lever, said member 8 is provided with an open radial slot 13, and with diverging plane faces 14 at the open end of said slot. The dropped portion 3 is provided at that edge remote from the rails with a depending lug 15 having an outstanding pintle 16 upon which the upwardly projecting operating lever 17 is fulcrumed, said lever having at its lower end an eye 18 embracing the pintle l6, and the eyel8 being held upon said pintle by means of a pin 19 or other re.- taining element. The plate a has a longitudinal slot 20 through which the'lever 7 projects, and said lever has an aperture 21 for the engagement. of; a wire, rod or other operating member in order that, the lever can be swung from a distant point. The lever has a handle 22 at its upper end wherer by it can be swung manually. The lever 17 projects through the slot 13 to operatively connect the lever and rocking member 8 whereby the oscillation of the lever imparts an oscillatory movement to the member 8 for reciprocating the bar 12.

The lever 17 swings in a vertical plane parallel with the track, and when the lever 17 is swung in one direction, to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the member 8 will be rotated clockwise, as seen in said figure, to

pull the bar 12 outwardly, and the lever 17 will move partially out of the slot 13 so as to extend across or overlap the respective face 14. Said face 14 in bearing against the lever 17 will prevent the member 8 from being rotated backward'ly, and this will lock the switch points in the position to which they have been moved. However, when the lever is swung in the opposite direction, it can readily enter the slot 13 for swinging the member 8, counter clockwise as seen in Fig.-

1, whereby the bar 12 will be thrust inwardly for reversing the position of the switch points. When the lever 17 is swung to its limit toward the observer as seen in Fig. 1, the lever 17 projects across or overlaps the other face 14 to prevent the member 8 being moved backwardly accidentally. Thus, as the lever 17 is oscillated, the member 8 is es cillated for reciprocating the bar 12, and at each of the two extreme positions of the lever, the member 8 is prevented from swinging backwardly. The member 8 provides a simple and effective medium for operatively connecting the lever 17 and bar 12, and the entire device is simple and inexpensive in construction, as well as being compact and durable. The lever 17 in swinging parallel with the track can be readily operated by a person on a train passing the switch, in order that the switch can be opened or closed after it is passed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a switch throw, an oscillatory member having a slot,ra bar connected to said member, a lever projecting through said slot and arranged in a different plane than said member, said member having a face, and the lever moving partially out of said slot to overlap said face when the lever is moved to one position, to prevent said member from moving backwardly.

2. In a switch throw, an oscillatory member havingia slot, a bar connected to said member, a lever projecting through said slot and arranged in a diiferent plane than said member, said member having diverging faces at the end of said slot, and the lever being movable partially out of said slot at either extreme, position of the lever. to overlap the respectiveface, for preventing the backward movement of said member.

A switch throw embodying a plate adapted to .be secured upon cross ties and having a dropped portion, a second plate secured upon the first mentioned plate across said dropped portion, a rocking member mounted for rotation between said dropped portion and second mentioned plate and having a radial slot, a switch operating bar connected to said member, the second mentioned plate having a longitudinal slot, and an upwardly projecting lever fulcrumed to the dropped portion and projecting through said slots.

1. A switch throw embodying a plate adapted to be secured upon cross ties and having a dropped portion, a second plate secured upon the first mentioned plate across said dropped portion, a rocking member mounted for rotation between said dropped portion and second mentioned plate and hav ing a radial slot, a switch operating bar connected to said member, the second mentioned plate having a longitudinal slot, an upwardly projecting lever fulcrumed to the dropped portion and projecting through said slots, said member having diverging faces at the end of said slot and the lever being movable partiallyv out of said slot of said member when the lever is in either extreme position, so that the lever overlaps the respective face to prevent the backward movement of said member. I

In. testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto aflixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses;

HOWARD HUGHES. ARTHUR FERGUSON. HARRY L. LOWE.

Vitnesses MARK V. LEYDAY, ALBERT R. MILWARD.

0091'" of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

7 Washington, 11.0." r 

